UAE Pro League Conducts Draw For 2025-26 ADNOC Pro League And ADIB Cup Season

The UAE Pro League recently conducted the draw for the 2025-26 sports season at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) headquarters. This event covered the ADNOC Pro League, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) Cup, and eUAE Pro League Championship. The ceremony was attended by notable figures from clubs, sponsors, and media outlets, with ADNOC as the official sponsor.

The draw ceremony was graced by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and CEO of ADNOC. Other attendees included Abdulla Nasser Al Jneibi, Chairman of the UAE Pro League; Saif Al Falahi from ADNOC; Eng. Bader Saeed Al Lamki, CEO of ADNOC Distribution; and Ahmed Al Mubarak from ADIB.

This season's event also highlighted the sixth edition of the eUAE Pro League Championship. The league acknowledges the increasing significance of eSports globally and aims to integrate into this expanding industry. The smart electronic draw system has been in use since 2021-22 in the ADNOC Pro League.

The smart draw system aligns with the UAE's 2020–2030 strategy for professional competitions. It reflects the UAE Government’s vision by using AI technology through OpenAI, supporting the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031. This system considers factors like balancing high-profile matches and ensuring equitable home-and-away distributions.

This season introduced a round-by-round draw system similar to top leagues like the English Premier League. The aim is to enhance technical excitement and competitive balance while delivering fan-focused matches. The draw ensures no more than two matches occur in one city during a matchweek.

The opening round will not feature major clashes: Shabab Al Ahli faces Al Dhafra, Ajman meets Al Wahda, Dibba plays Sharjah, Al Ain encounters Al Bataeh, Kalba clashes with Al Nasr, Khorfakkan takes on Al Jazira, and Al Wasl faces Bani Yas. Major clashes start in matchweek two with Shabab Al Ahli against Al Wahda.

ADIB Cup Draw Outcomes

The ADIB Cup draw resulted in intense first-round matchups. In path one, Al Nasr will face Al Bataeh, with the winner playing Shabab Al Ahli. Meanwhile, Sharjah vs. Dibba winner will meet either Al Ain or Khorfakkan winner. Path two sees reigning champions Al Jazira meeting either Al Wasl or Al Dhafra winner.

The winner between Al Wahda and Ajman will face either Bani Yas or Khorfakkan winner. These draws promise exciting contests as teams vie for supremacy in this prestigious cup competition.

eUAE Pro League Championship Groups

The eUAE Pro League Championship draw divided teams into two groups for strong matchups. Group A includes Bani Yas, Al Bataeh, Sharjah, Kalba, Ajman, Dibba, and Al Jazira. Group B comprises Khorfakkan, Al Wasl, Al Ain, Al Wahda, Shabab Al Ahli, Al Nasr, and Al Dhafra.

This grouping sets up competitive fixtures as teams compete for top honours in this championship format.

In conclusion to these events, the UAE Pro League continues to innovate its approach to football competitions while embracing technological advancements to enhance both player experience and fan engagement across various platforms.

With inputs from WAM